Containers



June 28, 1960 G. R. DEMPsTER CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Shea?I 1 Filed March 18, 1957 ATTORNEYS June 28, 1960 Filed March 18, 3.957

G. R. DEMPSTER CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L ihm.;

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oce Patented June 28, 1960 CONTAINERS George R. Dempster, Dempster Brothers, Inc., P.O. Box 3127, Knoxville, Tenn.

Filed Mar. 18, 1957, Ser. No. 646,589

5 Claims. (Cl. 2211-22) This invention relates to improvements in Containers of the collector type, as shown in my prior Patent No. 2,464,441, granted March 15, 194,9.

Containers of the type referred to have proven to be highly eiicient and economical in serving the door-to-door collecting of refuse, either being towed by a truckY or tractor or mounted on a hoisting unit of a vehicle. Such a container usually has a relatively large loading doorway at the rear thereof, with one or more doors for closing the same, and is made of sutcient size and capacity so that an attendant may reach or step'into the container to deposit the refuse therein as it is being filled. Where the container is provided with wheels, as in the above-mentioned Patent No. 2,464,441, it can be moved along the street and, when loaded, pulled against the curb, to be picked up and dumped by the hoisting unit, after which it is deposited in a desired location for relling.

In loading a container of the type mentioned, it has been found necessary for the attendant to walk forward into the container to begin the dumping of the material against the forward wall thereof. As he does this, the angle of repose increases with the height of the dumped material. As a consequence, the angle of repose has a tendency to prevent the attendant from stepping as far forward in the container as desired, without stepping on the collected refuse, so as to take full advantage of the entire loading space in the forward portion of the container. This is a difficulty which has long been eX- perienced with such containers and not solved effectively heretofore.

One object of this invention is to overcome the objections noted as to the loading of collector-type containers, to enable the attendant `to begin lling the container at the front thereof opposite from the filling door and without encountering an objectionable angle of repose to the material deposited in the container which would interfere with the lling operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collector-type container having an open side for retaining the material deposited therein within convenient reach of the attendant and without piling the material at an It may be supported by brackets at opposite ends of the container, preferably with the upper edge of the baiie plate spaced downward sufficiently from the top of the container to allow the attendant to reach over the upper edge of the baie for dumping the refuse into the forward portion of the container. The baffle plate should be held against substantial swinging movement, as by the provision of control stops in embracing relation with opposite sides of the bale plate at each end thereof, which thereby allows some swinging movement of the baffle plate to prevent lodging of the material under the latter, as may occur if the baille plate should be Xed, and yet the baffle is not free to swing to extreme positions, but will effectively retain the material in the forward portion of the container.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a container of the collector type, showing the invention applied thereto;`

Fig. 2 is a detail cross section therethrough on the line Z-Z in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the container; and

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section through the baiile plate and `supporting structure on the line 4 4 in Fig. 3.. The invention may be used in connection with many dfferent forms and sizesiof containers. For example, it may be usedwith a tilt-type container, as shown in the above-mentioned Patent No. 2,464,441, or in a drop lbottom type of container, as illustrated herein. The size of the container likewise can be varied substantially. Usually such containers, especially when handling relatively light weight materials as trash and rubbage, are of relatively large capacity. Often the height of the container is suicient to enable an attendant'to wallt upright or slightly crouched into the container to dump the material therein.

In Vthe formfof container illustrated, this is provided with a front Wall, generally indicated by the numeral 1, opposite end walls 2 and a rear Wall 3. The end walls 2 `may be offset intermediate the height thereof, as shown in Fig., 2. These parts may be Vformed of suitable plates, welded or otherwise securely fastened Vtogether to form a rigid structure.V .Y

Abottom is indicated at 4. Any 'suitable form of bottom structuremay. beused as desired, but in the example illustrated in the'drawings, the bottom 4 is formed asa sump and to provide'a drop bottom door for discharging' the end walls 2 or to iit in notches therein, as convenobjectionable angle in the lower portion thereof which would interfere with the dumping action by the attendant.

Still another object of the invention is to provide suitable baille means in a container of the collector type, or other suitable form of container, to hold the materiall in place therein as deposited and without permitting the material to fall at an objectionable angle in the lower portion of the container but to hold it efectively in place.

These objects may be accomplished, according to one embodiment of the invention, by providing an opstanding bafe plate in an intermediate-portion of the container, and suspended therein substantially from end to end. The baille plate preferably should be pivotally supported, so as to allow at least limitedswinging movement.

tionally provided in drop bottom containers. Lifting pins 7 are connected with these bottom sections 6, adapted to beengaged by lifting chains, cables or other fastenings'- or lifting means of a hoisting unit, as shown, for example, in my prior Patent No. 2,281,183, granted April 28, 1942, or Vby the arms of a fork truck for handling such containers in'a manner vnow well understood in the art.

Also connected with the front wall 1 or the container is a bail 8, which may be pivoted thereto orpotherwise connected, and of any suitable construction,` for engagement 4by the hoisting means on the vehicle to facilitate dumping of -t-he contents of the container.

The top of the container may -be partially or entirely closed. A cover is shown at 9 and lids are provided extending partway overV the top of the containejr'and partway over the rearportion, as indicated at 10. i These lids are hinged to the body of the container atA V11. Counterbalance torsion springs, may be connected `with Y the hinge means, as iindicated vat 12vnormal1y to return Y Y 'the container, I have povi'dedabale plate 2 1 -upstandplatev 21,V enabling Vitffto swing fbout `2`11ieori-sV extending' gin Fig. 4. sto-ps or pins are provided peferbrggsfindi- *Y of the ba plate zi'rorllimiting' Y i' frwardorrearward to a limitednextent tonfree anylarge the lids to closed positions. Latches are provided at 13Y on the lids 10 for holding the lids securely closed. i The rear Wall 3 covers a desired rearward portion of the container, While aisil'bstantial partei the rear .there-4 of may Vbe openrfor ae'cess by an attendant to the -ii`1` terior of the container. In addition to the lids l10,5the rear Wall opening may be provided Witla paj'of doors t 14 of substantial size, so that when thedosand the'V Iidsltare open, the attendant may Walkl into the coti-l tainer to dump refuse therein. The doors I4 e hinged at 15 to .the rear wall 3 andare provided v'vitliY a'latoh 16 for holding `the doors closed. t With azeontainer ofthe 'vt/alleintyplan'd size,-'-it's preferred `that a step be provided at the rearthjof, l as' Vindicated at 17 in Pigs. I -an'd 3,"Tlis's'tep 1-7 shown as hinged at 1ste the rear wall 3Y on the body of the .container and Vis limited in its'Y downwardfswiriging movement by chains 19 connected 'with the l When not needed or'after lling ofthe eontaine stepr17 mayV lbefturned to itsupstarding position onftlie hinges 18, where it is retainedvifn Yploe by latchas- Y sembly, lgenerally indicated at 20.` j A Y f Y Y' t Where the container is of Walkin type,- itQhas VbeenV Ycustomary heretofore `for the attend-ant to^-step forward into the container and to'dum'ptle refuseadjaeent'the iront .wallY thereof. Theiilling operation is startedginitially atV the front wall.Y Yln :orderto prevent therefu'se'from fallingat` anangleof'rep'ose which' would fvery quicklycover aV major portion of thebottomgf of Ving inthe lowerportionbt .the container and extending substantially throughout the length thereof between A'the' end rw'allsZ, as' be Yapparent"fror'ijt Fig'. 2f.I baf-i' He plate 21 may fbe formed ofslieet metalofgstitl'iient;

'strength'tn retain the refuse in tine forward pennen-nf 35 theV containerand'is supported Ybyl a'hirig'e rod '22?, iifhic'hA may be in thel form of a tubewe'lded to the ppe edgeV Y of thenp'lateV 21 and extending-son'1ewliat-be'yondthe opp osite-ends'- thereof, as shown in Figs'. 2 andv Il;A -Thefop-'- positie 'ends of the hinge ro'd'j22; ar'efreeeived' inbearing v brackets l23 s 'eeured to the end' Walls V2, as 'willbeVv apparent from Figs. 2' and"4 Y' "i Y i f i This structure' forms a pivotalsnpprt for the lengthwise ofthe ontaineratftheppe of the" 45 .bairetplate as indicate'd'in fulljlinesand- 1 do'ttedlires4 "et the :bathe plate. It is sutncientthat theV stops V24l ern-V 1 braceV the'bae plate t opposifeends thereof kandfneed notexten'dv throughout the lengtheroflthe container; )The l bafle plate Vwillthus be permittedy to swingV 'suiicfieiitly' t'o'Y prevent lodging of the refusetiunder the'lowerdge'jthe're-4 Vof,.'a'smt1y occur* ift/the' 'bathe plate wereiiiiedin' theI {containen` j j 'j f ".1" fi InY loading theY container,'the'rattendant usually steps`Y Y inthe Vbc'attomof the-container andWithout.thenecessityV for stepping on` VrefuseV inthe lower f'portion; of the-com tainer'-, whichmay occurV encept f or the bafe plate.; D t 'Will givamuch-rbetterrloading. of the material` and will 'not interfere in any Way T Withpthedimming,r in-V asmuch as the baie is suspended'and can=,move either l i .objects Ymight become! trapped or wedged the Q edgefthereofror to. permit such,objectsttopassthri'ugh' the:bottom'-opening.v This dumping'lactionjm'ay eoniplishedinY Well .knownlfmannersf and especially a lie parallel to said front wall andjenclo'siigthev portion ofthe container, an upright bate'extendln above andY spaced 'from said "bottonrstrtlcffirr`e,v

'i ment of the baleandiarrangedlto"perrii said befto "Iodging'o't material'wthfrrespectitezt e'- lwe'r'edge of the t en Y While the invention has been illustrated and described in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim. t

1. A container of the character described comprising a body portion including Vopposite end walls and a front wall, a bottom structure hinged ito the body portion and enclosing the bottom portionof the container, anV uprightbale extending substantially between the end walls at a location intermediate t-he front and rear edges of said end walls,vmean's pivotally suspendingsa'idfbaille from said end Walls for swinging movement'about a horizontal axis remote troni the bottom of said baille, and means on an end wall extending into the path of swinging movelment of the -baflle and arranged to permit said baille to t swing ,freely through ay restrictedV arc so as to prevent i walL a bottomV Structlire hinged .tofzthe bodyv portion along a line parallel tov said lfrontwall and enolosingthe bottom portion of thecontainenfan iipright baille plate' extending sub'stantiallybetween theenl wallslatjma 'lo-4 cation intermediate the Yfront and' rear edgesof said walls, bale Vsupportbrackets on said end: Walls and extending'inwardly therefrom, each of said bracketsV being substantially U-shaped and forming aseat, a h tal supportV bar rigidly attached to the upperdge f e' baille plate and projecting beyond the' 'opposite nilsI thereof, Vthe. projecting -end portions ofsaid seatedin said brackets tojsuspend said baleplate for swinging'movemeng and fulcrum control s toptrnembers carried by the opposite end Walls and eirtending inwardly in' embracing relation Vwith opposite sidesVV of the' baille platev at eaohendV ofV Vth'ebatlle platel andjbe'ing vspaed apart to permit said'bafe plate toY swingrfreely through a restricted' arc so as to prevent lodging of material v'yit-l'i respect tothe lower ed'g'e of the baiile'platef andiso to permit loosening of objects'duii'rig con't'ainer'-dunipi'g" operations'. A r Y V 3'. A container ofthe character'descrrilnrd` Comprising a body portion includingfoppositend wallsaridia'froitfy wall, a bottom structure hinged to 'the body portioiialV `g slt'antially between the 'end wallsat'a l'ocatioiiY the frontand rear' edgesof saidl end walls; n1 suspending saidr baille, from'sa'id end; wallsfo Iiiovemert` about a' horizontaly a Jis`*re1no"tj,y from? th bot# mmnrsnideanaithe bottom edge nfsaid Bane pjeingj' on,V anA end Wall'extending intothe'pat'hiofswih'ging nieve: i Y

swing freelyY throttgh' a rrestrictedartc so las fo'Y prevent baffle Varillso yas to permit,V looseningof or'tainerdumping"operations.V47 Y l 4. A refuse container tof the4v character desribed c :ni-'` prising a body pertion'includingoppo'site end walls' front "and backY walls; la" bottom 4sftrutilre.liin to the (startersY container,- Vsaid back' wall Yhavingth'erin of such size ast'o permit an' att d tto s tep-1ntoe; extending np ardlyffrnij a www fir.

tainer over the top of said batiie, and means on an end Wall extending into the path of swinging movement of the bale and arranged to permit said bafe to swing freely through a :restricted arc so as to prevent lodging of refuse with respect to the lower edge of the bafe and so as to permit loosening of objects during container dumping operations.

5. A refuse container of the character described comprising a body portion including opposite end walls and front and back Walls and an enclosed top, a bottom structure hinged to the body portion and enclosing the bottom portion of the container, said back wall having an enlarged opening therein of such size as to permit an attendant to step into the interior of the rear portion of the container during the loading of refuse, an upright bafe extending substantially between the end walls at a location intermediate the front and rear edges of said end Walls, means pivotally suspending said baie from said end Walls for swinging movement about a horizontal axis remote from the bottom of said baie, said bafle extending upwardly from a location near the bottom structure to a point spaced downwardly an appreciable distance from the enclosed top to permit lling of the front portion of the container over the top of said bae, and means on an end wall extending into the path of swinging movement of the baie and arranged to permit said bae to swing freely through a restricted arc so as to prevent lodging of refuse with respect to the lower edge of the baie and so as to permit loosening of objects during container dumping operations. 

